Netflix joins forces with Marvel for superhero shows

As Thor: The Dark World triumphs at cinemas and a Chinese box office win for The Wolverine has ramped up plans for another Hugh Jackman X-Men outing, four new superhero television series have been confirmed, to debut online.

Netflix - the American online network that resurrected Arrested Development and commissioned series such as House of Cards and Orange is the New Black - has agreed a deal with Marvel to develop four new series, as well as a cross-over mini-series, based on already popular comic-book franchises.

While the free-to-air series Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. followed a high-rating debut with only moderate success in the US and poor ratings for the Seven Network in Australia, Netflix see the voracious appetite for the cinema adaptations as proof of audience demand.

"Marvel's movies, such as Iron Man and ... The Avengers, are huge favourites on our service around the world,” said Netflix chief content officer Ted Sarandos. “Marvel is a known and loved brand that travels.”

The Netflix Marvel collection will kick off with a resurrection of the Daredevil character, following the critically maligned 2003 film adapted from the long-running comic series.

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The first of Netflix's four series will centre on the alter-ego of blind attorney Matt Murdock, played in the film by Ben Affleck. It will be followed by series focusing on Marvel heroes Jessica Jones, Iron Fist and Luke Cage.

Each of the four series will have a minimum of 13 episodes, to stream on the Netflix service from 2015.

Marvel's Luke Cage (behind Captain America and Spider-Man) will get his own series.

Marvel promises that “the epic will unfold over multiple years of original programming, taking Netflix members deep into the gritty world of heroes and villains of Hell's Kitchen, New York”.

The story arc will culminate in a miniseries that will hope to recreate the magic of the Avengers series of films, which brought all the heroes together for one story.

The Defenders will follow all four heroes as they combine to form a dream team of self-sacrificing crusaders.

Netflix has released all the episodes of its home-grown series on the same day, a model that is likely to be followed with the Marvel shows.

"This serialised epic expands the narrative possibilities of on-demand television and gives fans the flexibility to immerse themselves how and when they want in what is sure to be a thrilling and engaging adventure," said Alan Fine, president of Marvel Entertainment.

While Netflix does not operate in Australia, its programming has been picked up by SBS and Foxtel channels.

Marvel is separately developing a television series based on Hayley Atwell's character from the Captain America movie, Peggy Carter. Atwell appeared in a short film – a Marvel One-Shot – called Agent Carter that was included on the Iron Man 3 blu-ray, which set up the character as a stand alone agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. in postwar America.

Other comic book television series in development include a Batman prequel focusing on a young Commissioner Gordon and a spin-off to Arrow, which airs in Australia on the Nine Network, revolving around The Flash.